Organ drawbar demonstrator device



Aug. 11, 1964 c. s. GAMBLE ORGAN DRAWBAR DEMONSTRATOR DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11. 1961 InverZZBr: Cfiar/efi 6, GcwrzZZe; KW

11, 1964 c. s. GAMBLE 3,143,914

ORGAN DRAWBAR DEMONSTRATOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 11. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Ego". /0

C. S. GAMBLE Aug. 11, 19.64

ORGAN DRAWBAR DEMONSTRATOR DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11. 1961 his 1 ii F United States Patent O 3,143,914 ORGAN DRAWBAR DEMONSTRATOR DEVICE Charles S. Gamble, 564 N. Henderson St., Galesburg, Ill. Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,346 7 Claims. (Cl. 84-343) This invention relates to a mechanism for remotely indicating the relative positions of drawbars located adjacent the keyboard of an organ.

Many of the electric organs today make provlsion for limited adjustment of tonal quality to approximate the harmonics of the various classes of musical instruments, for example, the string family, the reed family, the flute family and the percussion family. However, Within each instrument family, the degree of harmonic adjustment in most electric organs is very limited and in many cases, non-existent.

One of the quality organs is provided with manually adjustable members which, within each family of instruments, provides a nearly infinite variety of adjustments so that the tonal qualities reproduced of particular instrurnents can be selectively adjusted to the most pleasing sound for the particular musical ear of the individual playing the organ. In this particular make of organ, the manually adjustable members are called drawbars, and through patterns of adjustment of the drawbars, the harmonic tones of a particular family of instruments can be infinitely varied. The drawbars thus provide a unique and valuable adjunct to such electric organs.

The ordinary musician who plays the organ primarily for his own pleasure in his home has been found to be singularly unaware of the functioning and operation of the drawbars. For the most part, the blending of beautiful tones by the use of drawbars has remained the secret of the professional or well-trained musician.

The present mechanism was constructed and designed to focus the attention of all organ musicians upon the diverse capabilities of an electric organ utilizing adjustable drawbars. The mechanism further serves as a demonstrating unit to emphasize the advantages of drawbars and to illustrate their use during sales demonstrations to either individuals or small groups of persons. It has also found great use in class teaching by organ distributors to enable purchasers of such organs to make complete use of the instruments capabilities.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for demonstrating drawbar positions while the electric organ is being played.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism which will proportionately exaggerate demonstrator drawbar movement during the playing of an organ so that organ classes or other groups of persons can visually see the varying patterns of drawbar movement while at the same time hearing the varying tonal qualities imparted to the electric organ. 7

A further object is to provide a drawbar demonstrating mechanism which can be attached and detached from an electric organ in a minimum of time and which is portable so that it may be used at public shows or sales meetmgs.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an electric organ provided with drawbars and illustrating the position of the drawbar demonstrator adjacent the organ;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the organ in FIG. 1 showing the means for actuating the demonstrator drawbars in dotted outline:

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the drawbar demonstrator similar to the view of FIG. 2;

3,143,914 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated on lines 4-4'.- of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the frame of the drawbar demonstrator unit showing a demonstrator drawbar pattern;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan View of the organ drawbars arranged in a position for producing one of the harmonic tones of the string family of instruments as shown in the Hammond Organ Companys publication, Harmonic Drawbars, No. HO69;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 6 in which the organ drawbars are arranged in a position to produce one of the harmonic tones of the reed family of instruments as shown in the Hammond Organ Companys pub lication, Harmonic Drawbars, No. HO69;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 6 in which the organ drawbars are arranged in a position to produce one of the harmonic tones of the flute family of instruments as shown in the Hammond Organ Companys publication, Harmonic Drawbars, No. HO69;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of the demonstrator drawbars arranged in a position to produce one of the diapason harmonic tones as shown in the Hammond Organ Companys publication, Harmonic Drawbars, No. HO69; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken from the rear of the drawbar demonstrator with the rear panel removed to illustrate a modified form of the means for driving the demonstrator drawbars.

The organ drawbar demonstrator, generally designated 10, is adapted to be positioned adjacent a drawbar-type organ, generally designated 11. The organ 11 has a hollow supporting base or housing 12 in which the electronic sound-producing mechanism is mounted. A pair of forwardly positioned legs 13 support the front end of the organ.

The organ 11 is also conventionally provided with a lower keyboard 14 and upper keyboard 15. Immediately adjacent the lefthand end of the upper keyboard 15 is a plurality of drawbars 16, generally nine in number. Each of the drawbars 16 is slidably mounted in the keyboard of the organ 11 so that each can be pulled manually outwardly a preselected distance. Index numbers, FIG. 6-9, are generally provided to indicate the extent of withdrawal of each of the drawbars 16. By sliding the drawbars 16 inwardly and outwardly, the harmonic tones produced by the upper manual keyboard 15 can be varied in their quality. Certain patterns of drawbar adjustment,

as will be explained more fully later, enable the tones of the organ to accentuate certain families of musical instrument-s.

The purpose of the drawbar demonstrator unit 10 is to remotely indicate by enlarged demonstrator drawbars 17 the corresponding relative positions of the organ drawbars adjacent the upper keyboard 15. The demonstrator drawbar unit 10 preferably includes a hollow housing or frame 19 which rests on the floor and which may be secured to the back of the organ 11 by pairs of laterally spaced braces 18 and 20. The housing 19 has a front wall 21 which is provided with a window opening 22 through which the movements of the demonstrator drawbars 17 can be observed fromv a position forwardly of the organ. It is preferred that a piece of translucent material 23 be mounted rearwardly of the window opening 22, and that an illuminating means 24 be mounted rearwardly of the translucent material 23 so that the positions of the demonstrator drawbars can more readily be observed. s *The'den'1onstra'tor 'dra'wbar unit is provided with connecting means by which each of the demonstrator drawbars 17 is connected with a corresponding organ drawbar 16 whereby movement of an organ drawbar 16 will cause movement of a demonstrator drawbar 17 within the window opening 22 of the frame or housing 19. As herein shown, a first set of nine pulleys or rotatable members 25 are individually rotatably mounted on a crossbar 18a secured to and extending between the laterally spaced braces 18 within the organ housing 12 and the pulleys 25 may be adjacent and below the inner ends of the organ drawbars 16. A second set of nine-stop-up pulleys 26 are individually rotatably mounted on a crossbar 29 secured to and extending between the opposite sides of the frame 19 of the demonstrator unit as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the step-up pulleys 26 is composed of a small pulley 26a secured to an enlarged pulley 26b. A third set of nine pulleys 27 are individually rotatably mounted on a' crossbar 39 secured across the upper end of the frame 19.

The pulleys 27 are driven by a number of cords 28 each of which is individually tensioned by a coil spring 30 and firmly embraces corresponding pairs of pulleys 26b, 27 in the frame 1%. The front runs 31 of each of the cords 28 are positioned to pass between the window opening 22 and the translucent member 23, and each of the runs 31 has a demonstrator drawbar 17 (preferably formed of balsa wood) secured to it as by glue or other mechanical means. The demonstrator drawbars 17 are positioned so that their lower ends are in alignment when the corresponding ends of the organ drawbars are in lateral alignment.

The pairs of pulleys 26b and 27 are each driven by corresponding pairs of pulleys 25, 2611, each pair of which is also encircled by a tensioned driving cord 32. Each cord 32 is individually tensioned by a coil spring 34. It will be noted that the pulleys 26a are of smaller diameter than the pulleys 26b so that a small movement of one of the pulleys 26a produces a greater movement in the cord 28 which encircles the corresponding pulley 26b.

In order to connect the pairs of driving pulleys 25, 26a to the slidable organ drawbars 16, drawbar extension rods33 are provided. The forward end of each of the extension rods may be secured to the rear end of an organ drawbar 16, preferably by a screw 35 or the like. The rear end of each rod 33 is detachably secured to the upper run of the cord 32 by a clip fastener 37 or by some similar fastener which is readily detachable.

From the structure of the organ drawbar demonstrator 10 described, it can be seen that the entire housing 19 together with the pulley drives can be retained together as a unit. To connect the demonstrator 10 to an organ 11, the extension rods 33 are first secured to the rear ends of the organ drawbars 16. Each organ distributor normally retains one organ with the rods 33 attached in a rather permanent manner. The braces 18 and 20 of the housing 19 need only then be positioned within the rear of the organ 11, and the demonstrator unit 10 is formed so that each of the pulleys 25 lie adjacent its corresponding extension rod 33. The fastener clips 37 are then secured to the upper run of the core 32 and the unit 10 is ready for operation.

When it is desired to demonstrate a certain drawbar pattern to a group of persons, for example, the pattern of the string family of instruments shown in FIG. 6 taken from Hammond Organ Companys publication, Harmonic Drawbars, No. HO-69, the individual at the organ simply pulls the organ drawbars outwardly the proper distance, and each movement of the organ drawbar is transferred in a proportionately exaggerated fashion through the cord 32, the pulleys 26a and b to the cord 28 so that the demonstrator drawbars 17 are correspondingly moved to form an enlarged pattern as shown in FIG. 5.

Other general organ drawbar patterns are illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9. FIG. 7 shows the general pattern which will produce tones simulating the reed family of instruments; FIG. 8 shows the pattern which will produce tones simulating the flute family of instruments; and

FIG. 9 shows the pattern which will produce harmonic diapason tones. It should be understood that many other harmonic tones other than those illustrated may likewise be formed, and it should also be understood that multitudinous qualities of tones within a family of instruments can be simulated by varying the patterns of drawbars adjustments.

A modified showing of the drive means of the drawbar demonstrator unit 10 is shown in FIG. 10 wherein structure similar to that of the preferred embodiment is similarly enumerated. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, it will be noted that each of the pulleys 26 is rotatably mounted upon an elongated curved crossbar 36 extending across the lower portion of the diverging frame. Likewise, each of the pulleys 27 is rotatably mounted upon a second arcuate crossbar 38 anchored in opposite sides of the frame 17. By arcuately mounting the sets of pulleys 26, 27, each corresponding pair of pulleys is positioned in substantially the same plane so that a straight line transmission of forces is provided from the pulleys 25 through the pulleys 26 to the pulleys 27. In addition, it permits the upper portion of the frame to diverge so that the demonstrator drawbars 17 can be further enlarged for easier viewing.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. For use in conjunction with an organ having drawbars adjacent the keyboard thereof mechanism. for remote indication of organ drawbar positioning, comprising: an upright frame adapted to be positioned adjacent an organ; a plurality of demonstrator drawbars movably mounted on said frame in viewing position, said demonstrator drawbars corresponding in number and positioned to the drawbars adjacent the keyboard of the organ; and connecting means on said frame adapted to join each of the organ drawbars to its corresponding demonstrator drawbar whereby movement of each of the drawbars on the organ is transferred through said connecting means to its corresponding demonstrator drawbar in viewing position.

2. Mechanism as specified in claim. 1, in which the connecting means includes a plurality of rotatable members journaled in the frame and operatively joined one to each demonstrator drawbar and organ drawbar so as to transmit movement of each organ drawbar to its corresponding demonstrator drawbar.

3. Mechanism as specified in claim 2, in which the connecting means includes detachable fasteners for making a detachable connection between the rotatable members and each of the organ drawbars.

4. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, in which the connecting means includes an upper set of pulleys journaled in the frame above the demonstrator drawbars, a lower set of pulleys journaled in the frame below said demonstrator drawbars, and endless cords firmly encircling corresponding pairs of pulleys in said upper and lower sets, the endless cords having front runs on each of which is mounted one of the demonstrator drawbars, the lower set of pulleys each being provided with 'a driving member each adapted for attachment to an organ drawbar whereby organ drawbar movement is transmitted through said pulleys to the demonstrator drawbar.

5. Mechanism as specified in claim 4 in which the demonstrator drawbars are of larger size than the organ drawbars and the pulleys of the upper set are spread laterally of the frame to accommodate the enlarged demonstrator drawbars.

6 Mechanism as specified in claim 4 in which corresponding pairs of pulleys in the upper and lower sets are each inclined in substantially the same plane. and the pulleys of the upper set are laterally spread farther than the pulleys of the lower set so as to give a straight-line transmission of force between each corresponding pair of pulleys from its driving member.

7. For use in conjunction with an organ having drawbars adjacent the keyboard thereof mechanism for remote indication of organ drawbar positioning, comprising: an upright frame adapted to be positioned adjacent an organ, said frame having a front window opening; a plurality of demonstrator drawbars movably mounted on said frame in viewing position in said opening, said demonstrator drawbars corresponding in number and position to the drawbars adjacent the keyboard of the organ; an upper set of pulleys journaled in the frame above demonstrator drawbars; a lower set of pulleys journaled in the frame below said demonsartor drawbars, each pulley of the lower set having a smaller drive pulley secured thereto; and endless cords firmly encircling corresponding pairs of pulleys in said upper and lower sets,

the endless cords having front runs on each of which is mounted one of the demonstrator drawbars; a front set of rotatable pulleys positioned adjacent the inner ends of the organ drawbars; endless cords firmly encircling corresponding pairs of drive pulleys and pulleys in said front set; and detachable fasteners on said endless cords for making a detachable connection with each of the organ drawbars whereby limited movement of said organ drawbars is transferred through said sets of pulleys to said demonstrator drawbars to produce greater movement of said demonstrator drawbars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ORGAN HAVING DRAWBARS ADJACENT THE KEYBOARD THEREOF MECHANISM FOR REMOTE INDICATION OF ORGAN DRAWBAR POSITIONING, COMPRISING: AN UPRIGHT FRAME ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ADJACENT AN ORGAN; A PLURALITY OF DEMONSTRATOR DRAWBARS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME IN VIEWING POSITION, SAID DEMONSTRATOR DRAWBARS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND POSITIONED TO THE DRAWBARS ADJACENT THE KEYBOARD OF THE ORGAN; AND CONNECTING MEANS ON SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO JOIN EACH OF THE ORGAN DRAWBARS TO ITS CORRESPONDING DEMONSTRATOR DRAWBAR WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF EACH OF THE DRAWBARS ON THE ORGAN IS TRANSFERRED THROUGH SAID CONNECTING MEANS TO ITS CORRESPONDING DEMONSTRATOR DRAWBAR IN VIEWING POSITION. 